Trying to remember this animal form...

TSDguy · Post by **TSDguy** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 3:47 pm

This is an absolute shot in the dark. I watched Kung Fu Panda last night and the main characters are animals from kung fu; a turtle, tiger, leopard, mantis, crane, snake, and monkey. So that got me remembering my TSD animal forms. Pre-black belt we did the normal TKD/Shotokan looking forms and then after black belt we did animal forms. This was so long ago and because forms weren't important to that style, I can't remember any except a couple steps in my favorite one. But for nostalgic reasons, I wanted to find a video or list of the steps so I can revisit the form.

To complicate the matter, my TSD instructor was the brother of the federation head, so he didn't even pretend to follow the official curriculum. He had also cross trained in karate, kung fu, and judo. So I have NO idea what he taught me.

The steps I can remember are an ultra deep front stance. I think it has a name in Kung Fu but I can't remember so let's just call it a very deep front stance. You step forward with those long straight arm windmill attacks that are from that style that never bends their arms. I know I'm being specific here.

First step is a back fist in the front and a low sideways hammerfist in the back, then you step again and it's two windmilling overhead hammerfists. That's all I remember.

Anyone have any idea what I'm looking for? I thought it might be Sip Soo, but the youtube videos of that form look stupid and are not what I remember.

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:21 pm

To start with, "kung fu" comes in so many different styles and variations that it isn't helpful just using that word. The Chinese were some of the most prolific choreographers in history.

That being said...

Remember that the 5 classic animal styles of Shaolin were tiger, dragon, crane, leopard, and snake.

Furthermore... what you are describing most definitely is NORTHERN Chinese martial arts. (Uechi is southern. More specifically, it is Fuzhou region CMA.) Northern stylists do the deeper stances, the long techniques, the windmilling arms, etc. So that narrows it down a bit.

Bob Campbell was our resident expert in Northern Chinese MA, having studied from a number of teachers in Chinatown. They used to call him "stealing eyes', because he could learn a form just by pushing a broom in a martial arts class. But Bob is out in Hong Kong I believe. Larry Tan is another wizard of Northern Chinese forms. He has an encyclopedic mind, and can choreograph a form on a whim.

The guy we have the best access to now is Darren Yee. He occasionally shows up online. Darren knows a buttload about all things martial arts.

I'll search around for you and see if I can find some online sources.

Bill

Bill Glasheen · Post by **Bill Glasheen** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 9:49 pm

Just a thought... Search through some hung gar forms online. You may find something close, if not the form you are looking for.

- Bill

TSDguy · Post by **TSDguy** » Sat Nov 15, 2008 11:26 pm

Hung Gar, that was the style I was trying to think of! It looks a lot like that.

I thought it might be a southern style since TSD got a lot of stuff from Okinawa, but it makes sense to be northern since, well, that's where Korea is.

I'll google some Hung Gar forms.

Chris McKaskell · Post by **Chris McKaskell** » Sun Nov 16, 2008 2:06 am

Hi TSD, if you find what you're looking for -- please post it.

Very curious...

Kung Fu Panda: fun flick, my household liked it a lot.

Thanks.